Evening Star Newspaper, September 30, 1937, Page 61

AMUSEMENTS, One Wonders if Roach Isn’ta Bit Awed Partnership with Il Duce’s Son Inspires Defensive Against Criticism. BY SHEILAH GRAHAM. turer of comedy two-reelers (with an antique jewelry business on the HOLLYWOOD, September 30 (N.A.N.A.) —Hal Roach, famed manufac- side), is wondering whether he has bitten off a larger picture deal than he can chew with his new film tie-up with Benito Mussolini. Not from anything he told your correspondent—it was the way he said it. “One faction of Hollywood criticizes me for the formation of RAM (Roach and Mussolini),” he told me<~ # after his return here with Il Duce's youngest son, Vittorio—his house guest and pupil. “They blame me for an T affiliation with the man they | consider respon- sible for Europe's threatened war eondition. They blame me for making pictures with Italian gov- ernment money. They are wrong on both counts. “Il Duce is a pacifist. Why, two of his sons—the apple of his eyes - —are aviators. them to their deaths. And he's hardly likely to do that.” (Mr. Roach omitted mention of Ethiopia.) “Besides, he has a reconstruction program that will last 12 years. He wouldn't want to interrupt that for a war, would he? “The six-million-dollar capital for RAM came from Italian bankers— and not the government. I have some of my own money in it—but Mussolini has not contributed a cent.” * ok X X The dictator's entry into picture making was inspired—according to Roach—by his dissatisfaction with the Italian product. “He told me,” said Hal, “that Italy had always been first in art and music, Our partnership makes it possible to supply the Italian people with pic- tures up to the Hollywood standard. It burns him up that Italy lags behind America in this new medium. Films are Mussolini's only relaxation. He works until 12 every night and then ®ees a picture to quiet his nerves for sleep. “RAM plans to produce 12 pictures tn the next three years, out of which Sheilah Graham. A war might send | only four will be for world distribution. The other eight—for Italians only the first will be the opera ‘Rigoletto’—are small productions, budgeted at $40,000 apiece. “We will use Italian stars exclu- sively,” Roach continued. “But I hope to persuade several Hollywood tech- nicians and cameramen to join the new company. I shall divide my own time between my studio in Hollywood and Rome. I go there again in Octo- ber for four weeks.” . Round-faced Vittorio Mussolini is the nominal ‘president of RAM—"un- til he gets the hang of the busines: then he'll be given more real power.” * x * X Roach revealed why the dictator’s son had given Hollywood's favorite glamor girls the hard-to-get-to. “He's married and expecting to be a father very soon—that’s why his wife couldn’t come here.” The biggest thorn in Roach's bliss is the boycott of Vittorio by members of the local “Anti-Nazi League.” “Mussolini has never expressed him- self against the Jews,” sald Roach. “As a matter of fact, Italy is full of non-Aryans driven out of Germany by Hitler. But if one day Mussolini adopted Hitler’s racial policy, & man close to him colld be of great use. I'm convinced that my association with Mussolini is the finest thing that could have happened for the Jews. If they're smart they'll stop antagonizing Musso- lini by showing bad feeling toward his son.” Vittorio leaves for home and his new job the middle of October. But first he will pay his respects to Italian Mayor Rossi of S8an Francisco. “He's a swell kid,” says his film guide. Roach’s personal opinion of the senior Mussolini is not as clearly de- fined. “I hope to know ‘papa’ more when T go back to Ital THE EVENING..STAR Accident Uncovers Famed Painting, glass from a champagne goblet, shattered by Metropolitan Operator Tenor Charles Kullman on “The Goldwyn Follles” set at Samuel Goldwyn studio pierced an oil paint- ing, the minor accident netted the Cinema Prop Co. of Hollywood a profit, which may be as high as $20,000. Ac- cording to analyses of experts the painting, purchased at a second-hand shop in New York for $250, is an original by Antoine Francois Callet, famed artist who lived from 1741 to 1823. Unofficial estimates place its value as high as $20,000. Kullman was singing the “Drinking Song” from “La Traviata” with Helen Jepson, Metropolitan soprano. In ac- cordance with tradition he shattered his champagne glass on a marble- topped table. A sliver pierced a por- trait of Louls XVI of Rrance, tearing & slight -hole in the bottom of the canvas, The studio, which had rented the painting from Cinema Props on that company’s valuation of $500, sent it to James Korn, Hollywood artist, for repair. In making the repair Korn discovered the Callet signature, al- most effaced by age. He analyzed the canvas and paint, discovered the work was approximately 160 years old, and after further study became con- vinced it was an original Callet. The Goldwyn studio communicated his finding to the Prop Co., which ob- tained a report from the Huntington Library. According to that report, one of Callet's best-known works was his portrait of Louis XVI, which he did in several versions. One of these versions hangs at Versailles, another at the Prado in Madrid and still an- other at the Kaiserlich Konigliche Galerie of Vienna. It is Korn's be- lief that the Hollywood painting is one of the two Callet originals known to be unaccounted for. De Mille Heirlooms. ECIL B. DE MILLE, producer-di- rector of “The Buccaneer,” re- cently inherited from a cousin some spoons and silverware that belonged to a distinguished ancestor, Peter De Mille, born in 1661. dida't meet him until the deal was ‘sold” He's a great showman,” the appreciative producer concluded. “His office, as big as my entire lot, contains only two pleces of furniture—the Mus- solini desk and the Mussolini chair, ‘The effect is very awe-inspiring.” (Copyright, 1937, by the North Americaa Newspaper Alliance, Inc.) WASHINGTON, Where and When Current Theater Attraction: and Time of Showing. Earle—“Souls at Sea,” stirring sea drama: 11 am, 1:35, 4:20, 7:10 and 9:45 pm. Stage shows: 1:05, 3:50, 6:40 and 9:15 p.m. Keith’s—“100 Men and a Girl” musical with Deanna Durbin and Léopold Stokowski: 11:50 a.m., 1:50, 3:30, 5:30, 7:50 and 9:50 p.m. Capitol — “Something to Sing About,” Jimmy Cagney returns in a musical: 11 a.m., 1:40, 4:25, 7:10 and 9:55 pm. Stage shows: 12:45, 3:30; 6:15 and 9 p.m. Palace—"Dead End,” Samuel Gold- wyn’s screen version of the Sidney Kingsley play: 12:05, 2:30, 4:50, 7:15 and 9:35 p.m, Metropolitan—"They Won't For-| get,” powerful screen version of the novel, “Death in the Deep South”: 11 am, 1:05, 3:15, 5:20, 7:30 and 9:40 pm, Columbia—“Thin Ice” Sonja Henle's skates flash again in'a com- edy romance with music: 11:50 am,, 1:50, 3:50, 5:50, 7:45 and 9:45 p.m. Trans-Lux—News and shorts. Show runs 1 hour and 15 minutes, continu- ous from 10 a.m. until midnight. Little—"Forever Yours,” musical romance, introducing Beniamino Gigli and his voice to the screen: 11:03 am., 12:49, 2:35, 4:21, 6:07, 7:54 and 9:41 p.m, D Ambassador—“Broadway Melody of 1938,” latest in the musical family; 5:30, 7:30 and 9:40 p.m, Penn—“Lost Horizon,” superb screen translation of James Hilton's novel: 3, 4:20, 6:55 and 9:15 p.m. Sheridan — “Wee Willie Winkie,” Shirley Temple's version of Kipling's Wee Willie: 2, 3:55, 5:50, 7:50 and 9:45 pm, Tivoli—"“Lost Horizon": 1, 5:15, 7:20 and 9:45 p.m. Uptown—"Lost Horizon": 2:20, 4:40, 7 and 9:25 pm. — . ‘Baby Marie’ Returns. J.\(IARIE OSBORNE and Irma Rishka have been assigned parts in “Women Have a Way,” R-K-O Ra- dio's next vehicle for Miriam Hopkins. Miss Osborne, a child star of silent pictures when she was known simply as “Baby Marie,” has only recently launched a campaign to identify her- 3:10, FRIDAY —THE EVENT OF EVENTS! Fresh from its record-breaking tri- umphs at New York's RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL where it thrilled over 300,000 people! A torrent of enter- tainment—set in a big human story! Uproarious comedy! In COLOR so glorious it will take your breath away! “Red Hot Heat” “Thot Old Feeling” “Lovely One" i IN TECHNICOLOR with HELEN VINSON » MISCHA AUER ¢ ALAN MOWBRAY « JEROME COWAN MARJORIE GATESON * DOROTHY McNULTY * ALMA KRUGER « POLLY ROWLES * VICTOR YOUNG and his orchestra THE WALTER WANGER MODELS *The Most Photographed Girls in the World" : A BIG HUMAN INTEREST STORY BY SAMUEL AND BELLA SPEWACK, AUTHORS OF “BOY MEETS GIRL" Directed by IRVING CUMMINGS Starts Tomorrow at * Released thru UNITED ARTISTS Last Day: Deanna Durbin in “100 Men and & Girl* KEITH'S 15th at G Two Are Started At Paramount 'O of the most interesting pictures of Paramount's Fall production schedule—"The Big Broadcast of 1938" and “Every Day a Holiday"—are be- fore the cameras in the company’s Hollywood studio. W. C. Fields is working in the star- ring role of “The Big Broadcast of 1938,” under direction of Mitchell Leisen, the first time the comedien has been before motion picture cameras in 18 months. Director Leisen is shooting exterior scenes at the Bel Air Country Club with Fields racing about on a motor acooter, on which he has practiced at his country place near Hollywood. Lynne Overman and Grace Bradley have been added to the cast of “The Big Broadcast,” which has Martha Raye, Shirley Ross, Bob Hope, Ben Blue, Dorothy Lamour and Leif Erik- son in featured roles. “Every Day's & Holiday,” the Mae West starring picture, is being directed by A. Edward Sutherland and pro- duced by Emanuel Cohen. Charles Winninger is the latest addition to the cast of this film, in which Edmund Lowe, Charles Butterworth, Walter Catlett and Roger Imhof have featured parts, bty s Whitney Pursued By Jinx. HITNEY BOURNE finished her work in R-K-O Radio's “Love in a Basement” with a broken rib— the latest evidence of the strange Jinx that has pursued her throughout her screen career. Doing & scene which called for her to race down a flight of steps pur- sued by Jimmy Dunn, she struck a newell post so forcibly that her rib was broken. Stopping only long enough to have her side taped, she went back to work despite the injury. Less than an hour after her previ- ous R-K-O picture “Flight From Glory” was finished Whitney was | quarantined with the mumps on one | side. She'd contracted them on the | Warner Bros. D.. C, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER. 30, 1937. other side shortly after her preceding picture, “ Head Over Heels,” was completed. Immediately upon finishing scenes for her cinema debut, “Crime With- out Passion,” she went to & hospital to regain the 20 pounds she'd lost from the strain of working in her first picture. “Six-Game” Truex A Tennis Champ ERNET ‘TRUEX, because he is a comedian, can see the humor in his newly won fame as a champion tennis player, ‘The actor, in Samuel Goldwyn's *The Adventures of Marco Polo,” has played only six games of tennis in his life, and these within the past three ‘weeks, ‘The other day he was paired with Elmer Griffin, professional, in the champlonship fourney of the Westside Tennis Club. After a grueling day, playing against some of the finest players now resident in California, Truex and his partner emerged win- ners of the doubles matches. The comedian has & silver cup to prove it. “North of Shanghai.” “INJORTH OF SHANGHAL" action- bristling feature dramatizing a story that keeps abreast of front-page news of China, is being readied for R-K-O Radio cameras. BELASCO.." ... NOW Showing Stage and Film Attraction “SEX MADNESS” Today and Fri, women only Baturday for men only ALSO ADDED FEATURE FALSE SHAME ON THE STAGE-—IN PERSON RADIO’S FRIENDLY ADVISOR ‘The Voice of a Thousand Experiences Midnight Show Sat. Night ~ METROPOLITAN ‘Warner BrosX¥Present: BETTE DAVIS JAN HUNTER'§ ANITA LOUISE § Donald Crisp \ Written end Dirested by BDMUND GOULDING Miusie by Max Sesiner’ A Pirst Nutionel Pieturd “Thres men in my life...Three scars on my heart ... . Why should | try again?” b ) $he put a Iifetime: MUSEMENTS,. Two “Met” Singers In Same Film ‘O former church echoir singers who have scaled the vocal heights to win stellar status with New York's Metropolitan Opera Co. today are in Hollywood, singing together in a motion picture, ‘They are Helen Jepson, lyric soprano, and Charles Kullmann, tenor. The picture in which they are appearing ie S8amuel Goldwyn's technicolor musi- cal production, “The Goldwyn Follies.” Miss Jepson did her first public singing in the choir of the Woodland Methodist Church of Akron, Ohio. Kullmann got his start at the age of 9, as a boy soprano in a New Haven, Conn., church., Although both rank among the Metropolitan Opera's top-flight stars it has remained for the screen to blend their voices. They have never chanoced to sing together in opera. Marlene’s Glamour. ERNBT LUBITSCH says that one of the secrets of Marlene Dietrich's success is the fact that she retains her glamour in real life. He has just directed her in Paramount’s “Angel,” with Herbert Marshall and Melvyn The Edward F. Miller Studio Baltimore—Pittsburgh—Cincinnati DON_MARTINI Become a Smooth, Imteresting, Popular Dancer in a Shom Tine! WALTZ, FOX TROT, TANGO, RUMBA TEN PATIENT, TALENTED TEACHERS Your Dancing Analyzed Gratis Beginners, Advanced—Private Lessons (1811 H ST. NW. B %% “Don Martini conducts this branch.” ETHEL M. FISTERE Formerly With Arthur Murray ANNOUNCES the opening of a new school for ball- room dancing at 1223 Connecticut Ave. N.W, Call today for guest lesson and dance analysis. Studio open 10 to 10. District 2460 PY N\ Ballroom DANCING resents at: atization of Flaubert's Novel “MadameBrowvary” With CONSTANCE CUMMINGS Adapted and Directed by Benn W. 35.00, 77e. Plus tax. Constttution Hall Tues., Oct. 12 RIGOLETTO Ouistanding cast from leading Opers Cos. e $4—Kitt's, 1330 G St., . Opera Ass'n., Raleish Hotel NATIONAL SYMPHONY conuce.r Presents Its Seventh Season of 12 SUNDAY CONCERTS 414 pr Boloists: Wagnerian Festival Singers, Moriz Rosenthal. Ruggiero Ricci Ru- dolph Ganz_ Ruth Posselt. Dr. Waiter Damrosch, Percy Grainger. Beethoven 9th Symphony with choral finale. 8 WEDNESDAY CONCERTS at 8:30 P.M. Soloists: Lucrezia Bori. Josef Hofmann. Vienna Choir Boys. Mischa_EL Baller Russe de Monte Carlo. Richard Crooks All Concerts in Constitution Hall. YOU CAN SAVE from $1 to 89 by | buying & season ticket. Because of | many outstanding attractions, single ticket pmices Rave had to be raised. but season ticket prices remain the same. Sunday series: $5 to $15_ for 12 eon- certs. Wednesday series: $3 to $18 for 8 coneerts. All tickets tax exempt. Main floor. Julius Garfinckel & Co. Store, 14th & F Streets N.W. NA. 7310, C. C. CAPPEL. Mgr. Thte. Dr. Hans Kindler, NGW SHOWING Frank Capra's Masterpiece | Wz In Colambias “LOST HORIZON” B A The absorbingstoryof a woman’s fightto live down the pastand win back the love that past had cost.” When'she fights againef Her future was’ shadowed by a « notorious past. odds—when she’s left with no one to turn to you say to yourselfg ““That might have been me’*) When'the love she has lived fo@ is won back at last you reliveythe: happiestihour of yourlife: You'll.cheer her to the skies=as"America’s”greatestTactress] She refused to weakest moment? Starting TOMORROW Doors Open At 10:30 a.m. marry her baby's father. XAV ON THE STAGE o CUGAT and his Orchestra ARLE [